Side dishes

Browse more than 20 years' worth of Martha Stewart tried-and-true side dishes -- from cultural classics and family favorites to new takes on old reliables. You’re sure to find a wide selection of side dishes for every occasion, whether a potluck, holiday meal, dinner party, or simple night in.

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"Oh-wow" main dishes and photogenic desserts are often the stars at the potluck. The side dish is an afterthought. Just bring green beans, they say. A casserole, perhaps. But the side dish is far more than just the sidekick that is only useful for palate-cleansing or nutritional heft. The side dish can be beautiful; it can tantalize the taste buds. A good side dish can be a scene-stealing, freewheeling powerhouse at any potluck.

Recipe adapted from John Besh's My Family Table (Andrews McMeel Publishing; 2011). His fourth cookbook, Besh Big Easy (Andrews McMeel Publishing), is due out in September.

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Do your French fries come out soggy, limp, and insipid? Try our test kitchen trick for frying them twice which is guaranteed to give you fries with a perfectly crispy, golden brown exterior, and a tender interior.